Improvement in corsets



`NIrEn2STATES 1 `PATENT OFFICE' I' HARHIETM. CHAPMAN, or*k PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN coRsETs.

Specification forming part of Letters-Patent No. 172,969, dated `lfcbruary 1,1876; application filed f December-24, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAHRIET M. CHAPMAN, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gorl sets; and 1 do hereby declarev the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention,- such as will enable others' skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and luse it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a perspective of my improve-v Fig. 2 1s a transverse vertical section.

ments. Fig.l 3 is a front view ofthe back of the corset; Figs. 4t and 5, detail views.

- My improvements have in view the follow' `ing objects: first, to make the pui or' bust sufficiently full and firm without the employment of ribs or stays thereby avoiding the inconvenience and danger frequently arising from the use of the latter, and obtaining at the same time greater tlexibility than was heretofore possible; second, to obtain the required stiffness for the back, on either side of the lacing, without using the inside bones heretofore generally employed, and to prevent the warpingv and twisting at this point to which cor. sets made without my improvements'have been generally liable; third, to provide a support,

lacing, a'stiener of duck or canvas; and,

lastly, to the employment of buckled straps, forming a support for theabdomen. y

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a corset embodying my improvements, A-A represent the puffs or expanded portions, designed to t over the bust ofthe wearer, or to produce an elevation siniilarto the bust for persons having an unfeminine iiatness of chest. The central portion of the puff is quilted-that is, iilled lwith cotton or otherv soft material, which is stitched in, the liuesof stitching all a1 intersecting, as shown. B B represent gussets on either side of the central portion of the putt', said'gussets being formed of twoV thicknesses of material, the outer one of which is corded in alternate horizontal lines b b. The lines of cording are designed and intended to be a little distance apart, so as to insure greatj er ilexibilitythan if they were-ush with one another, and are crossed by vertical lines of stitching, `which pass through strips of some thick textile material, as drilling, on the inside of the corset, as'shown at b. Similar vertical strips a? are located on the inside'of the central or quilted portions of the puffs,

and are fastened thereto by similar vertical lines of stitching. The strips attached to the central parts of the puffs may, if desired, be extended to thelower edge of thegcorset, forming pockets for the stays below the bust. C C represent the cords by which the back of the corset is laced, said cords passing, as usual, through the vertical lines of eyelets c c. On the inside of this part of the corset are placed strips of duck, canvas, or other equivalent material, D D, having the requisite stiffness and flexibility, said strips being covered, if

desired, by the material of which the corset is composed, and being secured in position by pasting or other equivalent means, preferably by vertical lines of stitching d d. s

When the corset is desired yfor abdominal support, and is made the required length for r that purpose, Iprovide it with straps E, having each one end secured at e, the other end e being designed to passinto, and engage with, a buckle, Fa

VIt should be remarked that when the corset is formed with the front lacing-gussets Gr the i StrapsE should be attached, as shown, tothe side of saidV gusset nearest the front of the corset, so that when said straps are drawn tight they will close up the gusset, or havea tendency that way, instead of opening it. In-

stead of the two \stra'ps E, a single one, fastcned to the buttons f or stitched to the corset about the same point, may be'used, as shown in Fig. 5.

What 1 claim as my invention is l l'. As a new article of manufacture, the cor- 5. In combination vwith the abdominal co1*- set having laced hip-gores G, the strap E, se-

cured to the front edges of the latter, substantially-as described. t

In testimony 'that I claim theforegoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of October, 1875.

HABRIET M. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

SAML. J VAN STAVOREN, SAMUEL C. OGLE, YEDWzo. SHAIN. 

